With dueling endorsements Monday, Megan Barry and David Fox made it clear that this election will divide the city into blue and red.
The Police are for Fox and the Firefighters are for Barry.
After watching a line of notables endorse his opponent, Fox announced Monday that the Fraternal Order of Police were endorsing him after the rank-and-file voted two-to-one in his favor. Less than two hours later, and following a prayer breakfast where she picked up more endorsements, the Barry campaign announced that Nashville's firefighters were backing her.
A statement from Danny Hale, president of the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police (with no relation to the author of this post).
We are proud to endorse and support David Fox for Mayor of Nashville. David is clearly the common-sense candidate who is most focused on the real needs of Nashville’s neighborhoods. And the issues he cares most about are also important to all of our men and women in blue.
And this from Mark Young, President of IAFF Local 140, which represents the firefighters.
We know Megan is the right choice for public safety. These men and women are answering nearly 600 emergency calls every day throughout Davidson County. We know Megan has a great passion for public safety and making sure we have the resources that are needed to keep my members and the citizens of Nashville safe.
What to make of these? Well, they're not nothing, given that they represent thousands of votes. But as for their, predictive quality, it's interesting to take a look back. Both unions had endorsed Bill Freeman in the general election. In 2007, Buck Dozier
initially secured endorsementsfrom both organizations, and the police ended up
backing Bob Clementin the runoff. So, maybe don't make any bets based on these. (Maybe don't make any bets on the election at all, since that is illegal).
Barry has support from other Metro worker unions and said recently that her only regret in eight years on the council was not being able to vote in favor of more raises for firefighters, police, and others. Another union endorsement of her is not surprising. But the FOP's endorsement of Fox is more interesting. For one thing, it's an endorsement which, for whatever its worth, he's been short on. But secondly, it would seem to cut against the charge from Barry that his administration would be one of austerity — a future one imagines rank-and-file police officers might not favor.
Full disclosure: Megan Barry is married to longtime Scene contributor Bruce Barry. David Fox is married to longtime Scene food writer Carrington Fox.
